Safe Motoring Without Frills

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 16 (Supplement)

Safe Motoring Without Frills

SAFETY and security under all circumstances are the features that immediately impress the man-in-the-street driver concerning the 1938 model Willys. Its striking and unorthodox design gives it sleek appearance, which is matched by its tireless performance and astounding readability. As the sole remaining light Amerii an car on the New Zealand market, it is one that maintains a worthy tradition. Demonstrated and tested in Auckland this week, a new Willys sedan introduced an endless series of surprises in light-car motoring. Paramount among these surprises was the rigid stability of the car revealed under an extreme freak test bv the demonstrating agent. He selected a steep and roughly terraced paddock at Orakei, and drove the ear at speed over the crest. Leaping and bounding down the rugged incline, the car was subjected

to strains of utmost severity on every part. Even after four such gruelling tests the' car showed no ill-effect in any particular. Apart from tho mighty forces brought to bear 011 tho springing system, this drive also applied to tho chassis extreme stresses that years of normal driving would never accumulate. Tilted at an alarming angle, so that tho left front wheel suffered tho major shocks, the car gave no indication of capsizing, even while carrying a passenger, and although tho right-side wheels were frequently bouncing completely off the ground together. True, it was a test no normal driver would design, but it definitely proved the body balance and safe gravity margin of the vehicle. Under more usual conditions, however, and on some of the roughest stretches of road one might encounter in a long day's drive, the Willys seemed to have a smile 011 its snub little face. It simply gloried in any kind of going, and the ride in either seat was always quite pleasant. On touring surfaces the car would glide along over any range of speeds in the most delightful style. was another outstanding point to commend the Willys. In dense traffic its easy mobility gave a, sense confidence that certain smaller models do not offer. But it was 011 sharp bends, where quick turning was demanded, that the Willys' steering pleased most. The lock of the front wheels permitted a simple turn in two-thirds of tho width of Queen Street. The silence of many modern models is not to be found in tho Willys. Except at idling speed, tho four-cylinder motor cau always be heard, but the oven beat is by no means an irritating accompaniment to tho drive. The solidity of tho engine is a compensating factor, along with tho economical petrol consumption of around 30 miles to tho gallo.n. Brake horse-power is given at 15.63, developing to 'lB horsepower nt 3200 "revs." a minute. Following truo American example, there are three forward gears, with a silent chango betwoon second and top. Around town tho Willys will go practically anywhere on top, but some of the steeper grades selected for testing called for second gear to eliminate a struggle.

WILLYS' SUCCESS IN GRUELLING TEST

The rotund exterior of the Willys, which is admittedly not favoured by the entire motoring public, nevertheless discloses advantages of merit. At high speeds there is 110 air roar or scream, as created by several more expensive makes of ears. Of greater importance, however, is the roominess of the interior, so deceptively hidden. There is ample seating capacity for six adult passengers, necessitating 110 ill-ut-caso crowding in the driving seat. There is nothing pretentious about the Willys. There .are no frills, apart frotu the ultra-streamlining, designed by the American authority on the subject, Mr. Raymond Loewy, who has utilised every inch of space. Leg room is ample, and there is a spacious luggage compartment in sedan models. On both sides of the simple but serviceable dashboard there are deep parcel compartments. The Willys range for Auckland includes two passenger models, the sedan and coupe, and a light delivery van.